Bump and indeed ouch. After just over three years and 24,000 miles I finally succumbed to the road (and indeed the black ice as well).
The amazing thing was that the whole accident was a bit of a non-event. I was slowing down some distance away from a T-Junction doing around 40mph and the back wheel just went and that was that – the bike sloped to the floor and I went bouncing down the lanes of Fifield.
I’m fairly sure the scoot itself is going to be a write-off; nearly every panel on the right hand side was either broken, scratched or scuffed and past experiences with Aprilia spares, particularly as the original Atlantic isn’t a current model, suggest that will be the case.
As for me, I’m not a write-off just yet. I do have the joy of four stitches just above my top lip and those funny little Steri-Strips across my nose, making it seem I’ve done a few rounds with Mike Tyson.
So my biking future is looking quiet for the time being. I’m trying to sneak in a cheeky little Vespa for the summer, but I think I’m resigned to finally taking driving lessons and getting a car licence.